By Mike Warren

MARSHFIELD – For the first time in their existence, the Columbus Dons baseball team from Marshfield has qualified to compete in the WIAA state tournament.

The top-seeded Dons won their Division 4 sectional at Gillett June 7, by defeating Lena and Rib Lake, due mainly to solid pitching performances in each contest. In the sectional semifinal game, Columbus handled Lena 11-2.

The Wildcats took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Columbus answered with four runs in the bottom half of the first, three more in the second and four more in the fourth inning. Lena would score one more run in the top of the fifth, but were shut down the rest of the way.

Cy Becker picked up the win for the Dons, giving up just two runs on five hits while walking two and striking out four. Becker also helped out his own cause at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and a run scored. Xane Adler went 2-for-4 with 5 RBI’s and a run scored. Brock Bennington and Cole Timmler each drove in a pair of runs as well.

 In the sectional final, the Dons shut out Rib Lake 5-0. Blake Jakobi tossed a complete-game shutout to earn the win on the mound, while walking two and recording five strikeouts.

Becker once again came through for Columbus Catholic at the plate, with a two-run base hit he stretched into a double. Brock Bennington also blasted a two-run homer and scored twice. Nate Nemitz went 2-for-2 with a run scored as well.

No. 2 Columbus Catholic now competes in the state tournament June 14-16 at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute.  The Dons (20-3) are scheduled to face #3 Bangor (21-5) in a state semifinal June 15 at 8 a.m. The winner faces the Regis/Oakfield winner June 16 at 9 a.m.

The Dons are making their first appearance in the WIAA baseball tournament. Columbus Catholic did, however, compete in the WISAA state tournament in 1988, losing their quarterfinal contest to Milwaukee-Marquette.